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Berkane Province

Coordinates: 34°55′03″N 2°19′03″W / 34.917614°N 2.317469°W / 34.917614; -2.317469
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Berkane Province
بركان
Berkane province, Oriental Region, Morocco
Map
Country Morocco
RegionOriental
CapitalBerkane
Population
 (2016)
 • Total
289,137

Berkane Province[1] (Arabic: بَركان) is located in northeastern Morocco in the Oriental region. It is bounded by the Mediterranean to its north, the Kiss Oued (Moroccan-Algerian border) and Oujda Prefecture in the east, Nador Province to the west, and Taourirt Province in the south. The Berkane Province includes under its jurisdiction the towns of Saïdia and Ahfir. The population of the city is 80,012 as of the 2004 census. The population originates primarily from Bni Iznasen, a major tribe which consists of Arab and Berber clans. The tribe's descendants are spread widely over the rest of eastern Morocco, usually in cities like Ahfir, Saïdia and Oujda. The eastern dialect of Moroccan Arabic is spoken by most of the citizens, although Berber is still spoken by some of the adults.

Berkane is considered a major player in the citrus fruit industry in North-Morocco, and high-quality fresh fruit and vegetables are plentiful year round. It is known for its farms of clementines, also a large statue of an orange is at the center of town. It is very close to Saïdia, a popular beach resort town on the Mediterranean, as well as Tafoughalt, a small village in the nearby mountains known for its healthy air and herb markets. Berkane is also famous for being the birthplace of the Olympic athlete Hicham El Guerrouj, who holds the world record for the fastest mile but he has never been a major social player in the development of his native town.

Berkane is a sprawling city centered on Avenue Mohammed V, a commercial and business strip, and boulevard Ibn Sina/Rue Dehb or Alhob (meaning "The Street of Gold and or street of love"). This boulevard is lined with many of the most popular cafés and jewelry shops. The city sprawls into the hillsides and connects via bridge to a small neighboring town named Sidi Slimane, giving the impression that it is much larger than the census claims.

The major cities and towns are: [1][dead link]

Etymology

The province is named after its largest city, Berkane. The name of the city comes from the word "aberkan" which means "black" in the Berber language.

Subdivisions

The province is divided administratively into the following:[2]

Name Geographic code Type Households Population (2004) Foreign population Moroccan population Notes
Ahfir 113.01.01. Municipality 4,160 19,482 310 19,172
Ain Erreggada 113.01.05. Municipality 625 2,983 11 2,972
Aklim 113.01.07. Municipality 1,812 8,969 5 8,964
Berkane 113.01.09. Municipality 17,245 80,012 199 79,813
Saïdia 113.01.25. Municipality 829 3,338 77 3,261
Sidi Slimane Echcharraa 113.01.29. Municipality 4,561 22,904 14 22,890
Aghbal 113.03.01. Rural commune 2,704 13,809 124 13,685
Fezouane 113.03.07. Rural commune 2,005 10,304 21 10,283
Laatamna 113.03.09. Rural commune 3,182 15,493 177 15,316
Madagh 113.03.11. Rural commune 2,758 13,980 54 13,926 2,312 residents live in the center, called Madagh; 11,668 residents live in rural areas.
Boughriba 113.05.03. Rural commune 3,727 20,560 4 20,556
Chouihia 113.05.05. Rural commune 2,138 12,539 0 12,539
Rislane 113.05.13. Rural commune 879 5,195 0 5,195
Sidi Bouhria 113.05.15. Rural commune 991 5,400 1 5,399
Tafoughalt 113.05.17. Rural commune 609 3,150 2 3,148
Zegzel 113.05.19. Rural commune 6,424 32,210 38 32,172 16,145 residents live in the center, called Bouhdila; 16,065 residents live in rural areas.

References

  1. ^ "Berkane". Archived from the original on 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  2. ^ "Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat de 2004" (PDF). Haut-commissariat au Plan, Lavieeco.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.

34°55′03″N 2°19′03″W / 34.917614°N 2.317469°W / 34.917614; -2.317469